Illuminated ash tray with releasable baffle



Feb. 15, 1955?l w. J. DE BEAUBIEN ILLUMINATED ASH TRAY WITH RELEASABLE BAFFLE 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed OC'l.. 29, 1952 Attorneys Feb. 15, 1955 w. J, DE BEAUEEN 2,702,339

ILLUMINATED ASH TRAY WITH RELEASABLE BAFFLE Filed Oct. 29, 1952 3 SheetsSheet 2 :if 15,2195/A i. /i

Inventor By f www Attorneys Feb. 15, 1955 w. J. DE BEAUBIEN 2,702,339

ILLUMINATED ASH TRAY WITH RELEASABLE BATTLE Filed oct. 29, 1952 s sheets-sheet s .2,79%339 ILLUMINATED ASH RELEASABLE BAFFLE William -l de Beallbien, Birmingham, Mich assignorto General Motors Corporation. Detroit. Mich., a corporation of Delaware Application Qetober f2.9. 1,952., Serial No- 317,496 8 Claims, (Cl. @24U-2) This invention relates to an ash tray. and more partioularly to au illuminated ash trav for an automobile.

la my Goaendios application. Serial No. 260.213 tiled December 1951, and entitled Illuminated Asti Tray. I disclose a novel illuminated ash tray for an automobile Comprising a frame, an ash .receptacle movably mounted on the frame. and baille means for providing diterent lighting arrangements. as desired.. ,from a lamp mounted behind the instrument Panel That construction provides a novel and useful ash tray in. which the lamp is extinguished when the ash tray isfullv closed. and in which the lamp Provides a downwardly directed reading or inap light beam when the ash tray is Partially open. this beans being blocked by the baille when the ash .tray is. fully Open. so that no annoyance from the beam is caused to the driver or to other occupants of the vehicle. Also, the lamp Provides, a dim illumination which lights the in: terior of the ash tray so that the occupants of the vehicle can readily see the ash tray at night.

The Present invention Provides, aa improvement over the asti tray diselosed and Claimed in eopeodiaa ao plcation S. N. 269113, in which the bathe is permaneatly secured to! the receptacle bv means of serews. or similar means,v so` that when the ash receptacle is removed from the fratrie to empty they ashes theieirom the baille is. removed also.

According to the present invention the baille is slidably movable on the frame, hilt is not readily removable therefrom; and readily releasable means are provided for securing the baille'v to 4tlll ieptacle when the receptacle is on the frame. the baille bellos carried by and beiasmov able with the receptacle.y on the. frame,4 but; being released from the receptacle when the receptacle; isl removed from the frame. With this improved' construction the` baille always, stays on the frame even when the, receptacle removed from the frame. The readily releasable con necton between the baille and the receptacle.. comprises, in the illustrated embodiment of, the. inventions a spring clip member secured to the bailleA and having a projecting lug portion, and a recess, in thel receptacle., adapted' to be engaged by the lug portion when receptacle: ismounted on the frame, `Sncegthebatl1eisreadily slirlable on the frame, between two tetmitial positions dfened by stop means. as hereinafterl de soribed',y the battle will be carriedv by the receptacle when thel receptacle. is on the flame, 5.0. that the. bailleY will operate. the light switch and will provide a reading or map light beam. when the receptaeleis partially operi andswill; bleek this beam when the. receptacle isfully open, in thesanle manner as described and claimed in. lthe c opending,- applicationof Serial No. 260,213.

Other featuresv and advantages of thez invention will be apparent from the followingjdescriptipm andfrom4 the drawings in which.:

Fig. 1 isa verticaltransverse section. throught antomobile instrument` panel having the. improved ash. tray mounted thereon,Av artof5theaslitray b ejng brokenr away, and the. ash tray bei'k g fragmentarily shown in closed position in solidlinesg in partially open position in dotted lines,. and in. fully open position in. broken lines;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view,v pal'ilallyV broken away, of the. ash tray of Fig. l.` in; closed position, Fig. 2; being taken al'cngjthe line off 2..-2 of Fig. L;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary, bottom plan View takenalong the. linel of 3--3 of Fig. '1 1, p arts being shown in closed position iiiy Solid lines. and in. orten positifoii` ist: broken Imes;

United States Patent O 2,702,339 Patented Feb, 15, 1955 position.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken along the line 7-.7 of Fig. 6 and showing the parts with the receptacle in partially open position;

Fig. 8 is a section similar to Fig. 7, but showing the parts with the ash receptacle in fully open position;

Fig. 9 is a transverse vertical section taken along the line 9 9 of Fig. l; and

Fig. 10 is a detail section taken along the line of 10=10 of Fig. 8 and showing the stop meanson the baille.

Referring now more particularly t'o the drawings, the instrument panel 10 of an automobile has an opening 11 therein, behind which is mounted a supporting frame, designated generally as 12, and providing a slidable mounting for an open-topped ash receptacle designated generally as 13. The lframe 12 is open at the bottom and has opposite vertically disposed side members 14 and 15 held in spaced relation by a top member 16. The res spective side members 14 and 15 have inwardly turned flanges 14a and 15a at their lower edges for providing a track upon which a baille plate 17 slides, said plate having an upwardly turned flange 1S at each s'ide adapted to engage the inner surface of one of the frame sides 14 and 15. The top member 16 projects forwardly beyond the front of the side members and its forward portion is formed with downwardly and inwardly turned ilanges 19 providing tracks for the slidable reception of the' receptacle 13.v The words forward and rear are used in the sense of defining the ash tray Faits per s'e-that is', the ash receptacle 1,3 is moved forwardly to open posi tion. and rearwardly to closed position. At the rear. edge of the flanges 19 are shoulder portions 20 forming a part 0f stop means for the receptacle 13, as hereinafter described. The center forward portion of the top member 16 is bent upwardly as indicated by the reference charac ter 22 to provide supporting meansy adapted to receive a screw 2.3 which secures the frame to a rearwardly bent bracket portion 10a of the instrument .panel 10' of the automobile.

A Ulshaped metal strap 24 extends over the top por tion 16 of the supporting l.frame and `is secured by means ofv screws 25 to side plates 14 and 15 of the supporting frame. The lower ends of the legs of-rthe metal strap are spot welded to a bracket 33 which provides means for the frame to be mounted on a rearwardly bent lower portion 10b of the instrument panel I0. Slightly back of the center of the supporting frame is a second metal strap 34 which is provided with a rubber bumper 34a'. The strap 34 is to keep the ash tray frame properly spaced from the automobile radio and to keep the electric ter.- rninals on the` frame spaced from the radio.

The side plates 14 and 1 5 have integral rearwardly projecting leegl portions 26 andY 27 which providesidewalls for a housing for a lampA and a` switch actuating merog ber. A Z-shaped plate has a vertical forward portion 28 which joins the rearl edgesA of the side; plates 14 and 15 above the projecting legs 26 and 27, a horizontal portion 29 which covers the space between the top edges of the legs 2,6 and 27 and provides a top Wall for. the' lamp and switch housings, and a.l rear vertical portion 30 which closes the space between the. rear. ends of thelegs 26 and 27. Projecting downwardly from. the lower surfacef of the horizontal portion 2,9 of the V-shaped pljateis an Lf shaped stamping. having a longitudinally extendingy wall portion 3.1 forming a partition betweenthe lamphousing and the switch housing and a transversely extendingwall: portion 32 forming a front wall for the lamp housing and. having therein1 an aperture 32a. A chann,el-shapedstam-p-i ing 3.7 spot-.welded to the under surface. of thesplate, porc;t tion 29. to provide a rear wall for the lamp and switch housings,y which are open; at the bottom.

A lamp 35 is carried/ in a socketA 36 mounted' on the;

bulb extending below the portion 29 into the lamp housing detined by the walls 29,' 31, 32, 37 and the leg portion 27. The lamp housing is open at the bottom as pointed out above, and preferably the surfaces of the lamp housing wall members are painted black to minimize reflection of rays from the lamp 35.

A single pole single throw switch 38 is mounted on the horizontal plate portion 29 at the side of the lamp 35, the switch having an actuating member 39 projecting downwardly through the plate 29. The switch is spring biased to closed position, in which position the actuating member 39 projects downwardly to its fullest extent as shown best in Figs. and 6. A power supply lead 40 extends to one terminal of the switch, this lead being held in position by a clip 41 secured to the wall 14 of the supporting frame. This lead preferably is connected to one of the lighting circuits of the automobile, as, for example, thetail light circuit. The other switch terminal is connected by a lead 42 to one terminal of the lamp .and the other lamp terminal is grounded through the supporting frame and the instrument panel of the automobile.

The open-topped ash receptacle 13 is generally of conventional construction, having a bottom 45, a rear wall 46,.opposite sides 47 and 48, and a front wall 49 to which is secured an ornamental front plate 50 which projects downwardly and rearwardly below the front of the receptacle and provides a finger grip portion for manually opening the receptacle. A snuffer 51 is mounted on the inner surface of the front wall 49. Rails 52 for cooperation with the frame tracks 19 are formed on the upper edges of the receptacle sides 47 and 48, and adjacent the rear ends of these rails on the lower side thereof are detents 54, which are adapted to engage the shoulders at the rear ends of the track ilanges 19 (see Fig. 6) to provide readily releasable stop means so that the receptacle can be pulled to fully open position and stopped there. Anti-rattle leaf springs 57 (Figs. l and 2) are mounted on the frame and are bent downwardly into the tracks 19 to provide a frictional mounting for the ash receptacle. VWhen the receptacle is to be removed from the frame, forward and downward pressure on the outer end of the receptacle will cause the rear end of the receptacle to move slightly upwardly against the force of the springs 57 and release the detents 54 from the shoulders 20 at the flange ends so that the receptacle can be readily removed from the frame when it is desired to empty the contents of the receptacle.

Asillustrated in Figs. l, 5 and 6, the rear wall 46 r of the ash receptacle terminates short of the lower surface of the frame member 16 when the receptacle is mounted in the frame to provide a slot 53 for the admission of light rays into the interior of the ash receptacle.

As earlier described, the baille 17 is slidable on the frame in the tracks provided by the anges 14a and 15a.

The bafle is provided with a window 58 at the lamp side near the longitudinal center of the baflle, and at the switch side and somewhat forwardly of the window` 58, the baille is provided with a raised portion designated generally as 60 and having a rearwardly extending sloping cam surface 61 and a flat raised center portion 62.' The upper surface of the baille preferably is painted black to minimize rellection.

As shown best in Fig. 3, the inwardly turned ilange 14a is provided with an elongated notch 63, and the under surface of the baille is provided with a detent 64 adjacent its side edge near the front portion of the cam portion 60. Engagement of the detent 64 with a shoulder 65 at the front end of the notch 63 limits forward movement of the baille 17 on the frame, and engagement of the detent 64 with a shoulder 66 at the rear end of said notch limits rearward movement of said baftle so that the baille, while slidable in the frame, is not removable therefrom during operation of the ash tray.

A strip of spring metal 68 is riveted to the under surface of the baille 17 and extends transversely across the bottom surface of the baille somewhat to the rear of the longitudinal center of the baille, this strip having shoe portions 68a and 6817 at its respective opposite ends, which are adapted to engage the lower surface of the respective inwardly turned llange portions 14a and 14b of the frame side members and clamp said llange portions resiliently between the shoe and the bottom surface of the baille to provide an anti-rattle, but frictionally slidable, mounting for the baille. A similar spring metal strip 69 is provided forwardly of the center of the baille, this strip being riveted to the under surface of the baille and having shoes 69a and 69b for engaging the under surface of the ilanges 14a and 15a. A spring clip portion 70 extends forwardly from adjacent the center of the strip 69 and is bent upwardly at its forward end to form a spring lug 71 which projects upwardly through a slot 72 in the baille. As shown in Figs. 4 and 6, the under surface of the bottom 45 of thereceptacle is provided with a recess 73 adjacent its rear edge, this recess being elongated in a direction transversely of the receptacle and being adapted to be engaged by the spring lug 71 so that, when the receptacle 13 is mounted on the frame, it is readily removably attached to and carries the bale 13. However, when the receptacle is removed from the frame in order to empty ashes or other material therefrom, the stop means 64, between the baille and the side plate of the frame prevents removal of the baille, and the spring lug and recess connection 71, 73 between the bale and the receptacle is released, thereby providing readily releasable means for securing the baille to the receptacle when the receptacle is on the frame so that the baille is carried by and is movable with the receptacle on the frame, but is released from the receptacle when the receptacle is removed from the frame. Since the connection between the baille and receptacle is made by means of a flexible spring clip, this connection would be broken if the receptacle were merely pulled forwardly when the baille engaged its stop means. However, the tilting movement earlier described in removing the receptacle from the frame facilitates the breaking of the connection between the baille and the receptacle.

In the operation of the device, when the ash receptacle is pushed into position on the frame and is moved rearwardly towards closed position, the lug 71 on the baille engages in the recess 73 at the bottom of the ash receptacle so that the baille is readily releasably attached to the receptacle. With the ash tray fully closed as shown in solid lines in Fig. l, the switch actuating member 39 rides up kon the raised surface 62 on the baille so that the switch is open, and lthe lamp 35 is extinguished, even if the lighting circuits of the automobile are energized. When the ash receptacle is moved to a partially open position as shown in dotted lines in Fig. l and as shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the switch actuating member 39 rides down the sloping cam surface 61 and the switch is closed. With the parts in this position, if the tail light circuit of the automobile is energized, the lamp 35 will be illuminated, and a beam of light rays from the lamp will be directed downwardly, passing through the window 58, which is now aligned with the open bottom of the lamp housing as shown best in Fig. 7. This beam of light will illuminate the iloor of the automobile and the beam may also be used as a map or reading light.

When the ash tray is moved forwardly to its fully open position as shown in broken lines of Fig. l and as shown in Fig. 8, the window 58 in the baille moves forwardly of the lamp housing so that the beam of light is blocked by an imperforate portion of the baille 17. However, light rays extending through the forward window 32a in the lamp housing front wall project through the slot 53 between the top 16 of the supporting frame and the rear wall 46 of the ash receptacle to provide a dim illumination for the interior of the ash receptacle. When the ash receptacle is moved to closed position the switch actuating member 39 will ride up'the sloping cam surface 61 to open the switch 38 and extinguish the lamp.y When it is desired to remove the ash receptacle to empty the contents thereof, downward and forward pressure is exerted on the front of the ash receptacle to release the detents 54 from the shoulders 20 on the flanges 19 on the frame rails, and the ash receptacle may be removed without removing the baflle` 17, removal of the bame being prevented by engagement of detent 64 against shoulder 65. While the baille 17 is held by spring means so that it would be released from the receptacle merely by pulling forwardly on the ashy receptacle, the upwardly tilting movement of the rear part of the ash receptacle which is necessary in order to release the detents 54 from shoulders 20 also facilitates the operation of the readily releasable spring connection between the baille and the ash receptacle.

While I have shown and described one embodiment of my invention, it is capable df many modifications.

Changes therefore, in the construction and arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An ash tray of the character described, including: a supporting frame; a receptacle movably mounted on said frame and readily removable therefrom; a lamp xedly mounted exteriorly of said receptacle to illuminate said receptacle; a member movably mounted on said frame and having means for passing a beam of rays from said lamp when the member is in one position and means for intercepting the beam when the member is in another position; means providing a readily releasable connection between said member and receptacle so that the member is carried by and is movable with the receptacle on the frame; positive stop means adapted to coact with said member to prevent the removal of said member from said frame, and means responsive to further movement of said receptacle after said member engages said stop means for releasing said connection to permit removal of said receptacle.

2. An ash tray of the character described, including: a supporting frame; a receptacle movably mounted on said frame and readily removable therefrom; a lamp xedly mounted exteriorly of said receptacle to illuminate said receptacle; a baffle movably mounted on said trame and having a window for passing a beam of rays from said lamp when the bathe is in one position, the body portion of the baille intercepting the beam when the bafe is in another position; means providing a readily releasable connection between said bale and receptacle so that the bafle is carried by and is movable with the receptacle on the frame; positive stop means adapted to coact with said baie to prevent the removal of said baie from said frame, and means responsive to further movement of said receptacle after said bale engages said stop means for releasing said connection to permit removal of said receptacle.

3. An ash tray of the character described, including: a supporting frame; a receptacle mounted on said frame for movement between open and closed positions, said receptacle being readily removable from said frame; a lamp flxedly mounted exteriorly of said receptacle to illuminate the receptacle; a baie movably mounted on the frame and having a body portion extending away from said receptacle past said lamp, said bafe having a window so located that it passes a beam of rays from said lamp when the receptacle is in one position, the body portion of the bathe mtercepting the beam when the receptacle is in another position; means providing a yieldable frictional connection between the baie and receptacle so that the baffle is carried by and is movable with the receptacle on the frame; positive stop means adapted to coact with said baie to prevent the removal of said baile from said frame; and means responsive to further movement of said receptacle after said baille engages said stop means for releasing said connection to permit removal of said receptacle.

4. An ash tray of the character described, including: a supporting frame; a receptacle movably mounted on said frame for movement into and out of said frame between closed, intermediate and open positions, said receptacle being readily removable from said frame; a lamp tixedly mounted exteriorly of said receptacle to illuminate the receptacle; a switch for controlling operation of said lamp; a bafe movably mounted on said frame and having a body portion extending away from said receptacle past said lamp, said bae having means for operating said switch to extinguish said lamp when the receptacle is closed and said baflle having means for F passing a beam of rays from said lamp when the receptacle is in intermediate position and means for intercepting the beam when the receptacle is in open position; means providing a readily releasable connection between said baille and receptacle so that the bafe is carried by and is movable with the receptacle on the frame; positive stop means adapted to coact with said baie to prevent the removal of said baie from said frame; and means responsive to further movement of said receptacle after said baille engages said stop means for releasing said connection to permit removal of said receptacle.

5. An ash tray of the character described, including: a supporting frame; a receptacle movably mounted on said frame and readily removable therefrom; a lamp mounted on the -frame exteriorly of said receptacle to illuminate said receptacle; a member movably mounted on said frame and having means for passing a beam of rays exteriorly of said receptacle from said lamp when the member is in one position and means for intercepting the beam when the member is in another position; cooperating lug and recess means on the member and receptacle providing a yieldable frictional connection between said member and receptacle so that the member is carried by and is movable with the receptacle on the frame; positive stop means adapted to coact with said member to prevent the removal of said member from said frame; and means responsive to further movement of said receptacle after said member engages said stop means for releasing said connection to permit removal of said receptacle.

6. Apparatus of the character claimed in claim 5, wherein said positive stop means comprise shoulder portions on said frame and a cooperating detent on said member for preventing removal of said member from the frame.

7. An ash tray of the character described, including: a supporting frame; a receptacle movably mounted on said frame and readily removable therefrom; a lamp mounted on the frame exteriorly of said receptacle to illuminate the receptacle; a baffle movably mounted on said frame and having a body portion extending away from said receptacle past said lamp, said bale having a window so located that it passes a beam of rays exteriorly of said receptacle from said lamp when the baffle is in one position, the body portion of the baie intercepting the beam when the bathe is in another position; means providing a readily releasable connection between said bale and receptacle, comprising a spring lug projecting from the baffle and a recess on said receptacle for receiving said lug when the receptacle is mounted on the frame so that the bale is carried by and is movable with the receptacle on the frame; positive stop means adapted to coact with said baille to prevent the removal of said bafe from said frame; and means responsive to further movement of said receptacle after said bale engages said stop means for releasing said connection to permit removal of said receptacle. v

8. An ash tray of the character described, including: a supporting frame; a receptacle slidably mounted on said frame for movement into and out of said frame between closed, intermediate and open positions, said receptacle being readily removable from said frame; a lamp mounted on the frame exteriorly of said receptacle to i1- luminate the receptacle; a baie slidably mounted on the frame and having a body portion extending away from said receptacle past said lamp, said bafe having a window so located that it passes a beam of rays exteriorly of said receptacle from said lamp when the receptacle is in its intermediate position, the body portion of the baffle intercepting the beam when the receptacle is in open position; means providing a yieldable frictional connection between said bafe and receptacle comprising a spring clip secured to the baffle and having a lug portion projecting therefrom and a recess in said receptacle for receiving said lug portion when the receptacle is mounted on the frame so that the baie is carried by and is movable with the receptacle on the frame; positive stop means comprising at least one shoulder portion on the frame and a cooperating detent on the battle for preventing removal of said baille from said frame; and means responsive to further movement of said receptacle after said baie detent engages said stop means for releasing said connection to permit removal of said receptacle.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,497,728 Kresh June 17, 1924 1,532,935 Patton Apr. 7, 1925 2,209,869 Yoximer July 30, 1940 2,555,716 Todhunter June 5, 1951 

